The couple had separated a month before her body was found in the wardrobe in the front bedroom of the terraced house. She had gone to stay at a women's refuge in Toxteth with her children Matthew, aged four, and Paige, aged two.

Kevin Wilkinson, 25, who is engaged to Miss Lewis's sister Danielle, told the court that he returned to the house after work at around 5pm on March 5.

There were several other relatives and friends in the house, including Danielle's two young children.

Mr Wilkinson said: "I went back to Victoria Road and Mark said he had something to tell me.

"He was walking round the room and then he said: 'I've killed Nicki'."

"I walked out - I didn't believe him, but then I received a phone call from my father and went back to the house.

"We found Nicole's body in the bedroom."

It is alleged that hotel chef Wilkinson held Miss Lewis by the throat and covered her nose and mouth with his hands before stuffing a plastic bag in her mouth and hiding her body in the wardrobe while her family was downstairs.

Wilkinson was arrested by police, the court heard, after his father, John, called the emergency services.